DETROIT, MI - House Democrats are threatening to derail a state bill that the Ilitch family says is needed to move forward with a $650 million Detroit Red Wings arena and mixed-use entertainment district in downtown Detroit, the Detroit News reports.

The Ilitch family's proposed mixed-use development would be funded by a mix of private investment and existing money collected by the city’s DDA. No new taxes would be needed to build the development, but the state would need to pass House Bill 5463 to allow the DDA to continue to get money for these kinds of developments.

A Senate committee unanimously approved the bill last week. It is likely to come up for a vote before the full Senate on Wednesday.

While the democrats indicated they plan to vote “no,” the Detroit News reports House Speaker Pro Tem John Walsh, the sponsor of H.B. 5463, was still scrambling to get fellow Republicans behind the legislation.

"The Dems have indicated they're going to vote no on everything and we're going to have to work hard to get (more Republican) votes," Walsh, R-Livonia, is quoted as saying in the Detroit News report.

Republicans are reportedly leery of any public money going toward private development, making the legislation a tough sell on both sides of the aisle.